The Barcelona Chair at the International Exposition in Barcelona

The International Exposition of Barcelona was a pivotal moment for Modernism, it gave the movement a place and a showcase to make the world of architecture witness the revolutionary changes that Modernism bring into the 1920s. This was the place when the Barcelona Chair and the Barcelona Collection were released, and from there requested and manufactured by many decor enthusiasts all over the world, almost without interruption to this day.

This was the occasion for Ludwig Mies van der Rohe to rise in the world of Architecture and to be considered as one of the most influential Modernists. His legacy, not only in the German Pavillion, the Barcelona Collection, but the German Electricity Supply Pavillion among other works, both in Architecture and Interior Design, was just beginning, but with a outstanding solid feet. Van der Rohe at that time had 42 years old, and it was in the middle of a longlive and prolific career.

Let's take a look at what was this International Exposition

What was the Barcelona International Exposition of 1928?

The first Universal Exposition was held in Barcelona, in 1988, so the 1929 Exposition was not the first international fair to be held in Barcelona.

The Barcelona International Exposition has some public spaces, a group of International Pavilions with the Official Sections, and a group of Private Pavilions, among other specials Pavilions.

Public spaces of the Barcelona International Exposition

The Exposition Center

The Plaza d' Espanya

The Magic Fountain

The Convention Center held the official sections. They were:

The Communications and Transport Centre

The Clothing Centre

The Centre for Metallurgy, Electricity and Motive Force

The Centre for Textile Arts

The Projection Centre

The Alfonso XIII and Victoria Eugenia Centres

The Palau Nacional (The National Palace)

The City of Barcelona Pavilion

The Press Centre

The Centre for Decorative and Applied Arts

The Graphical Arts Centre

The Centre of Agriculture

The Spanish Pavilion

The Delegation Centre

The Chemistry Centre

The Royal Pavilion

The Centre for Modern Art

The Centre of Missions

The Southern Palace

The International Pavilions:

Here was where every delegation expose its achievements. The Barcelona Chair was exposed in the German Pavilion. It had the following Pavilions:

German Pavilion

Belgian Pavilion

Danish Pavilion

French Pavilion

Hungarian Pavilion

Italian Pavilion

Norwegian Pavilion

Serbian, Croatian and Slovene Pavilion

Romanian Pavilion

Swedish Pavilion

Artists' Gathering Pavilion

Beyond the Pavilions

Apart from the Pavilions and the Official Sections, the International Expositions of Barcelona held some special sections, like the Private Pavilions (of private companies),Teatre Grec (The Greek Theatre), the Estadi Olimpic (The Olympic Stadium); and the Poble Espanyol (Spanish Town).

The Barcelona Collection was showed in the German Pavilion, designed by L. Mies van der Rohe with the collaboration of Lilly Reich. Because of its simplicity and revolutionary style was considered a hallmark of its time. It was demolished after the Exposition, and rebuilded in 1985, by Cristian Cirici, following the original Design by van der Rohe.

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